Disaster Management

Introduction

Disasters are as old as human history but the dramatic increase and the damage caused by them in the recent past have become a cause of national and international concern.

‘Disaster’ is defined as a crisis situation causing wide spread damage which exceeds ability to recover. Thus, by definition, there cannot be a perfect ideal system that prevents damage, because then it would not be a disaster. It has to suffocate our ability to recover. Only then it can be called as ‘disaster’. The disasters often differ in quantity of damage caused or in quality of the type of medical consequences.

Disaster management is the discipline of dealing with and avoiding both natural and manmade disasters. It is the discipline of dealing with and avoiding risks. This discipline involves preparedness, response and recovery in order to lessen the impact of disasters. Through some safety measures, these disasters could be avoided to some extent.

Your first aid kit should be well equipped with Adhesive tape, bandages, Three medium and three large sterilized dressing, Cotton wool Cotton buds, Disposable (gloves/Tongue depressor), Tweezers, scissors and safety pins.

FOR INFORMATION ON DISASTERS DIAL TOLL FREE NO.1070

Natural Disasters

Natural Disasters are caused because of natural phenomena (hazards with meteorological, geological or even biological origin). Examples of natural hazards are cyclones, tsunamis, earthquake and volcanic eruption which are exclusively of natural origin. Landslides, floods, drought, fires are socio-natural hazards since their causes are both natural and man made. For example flooding may be caused because of heavy rains, landslide or blocking of drains with human waste. Types of Natural Disasters:

​Man Made Disasters

Disasters can be man made where the cause in unintentional. All Kinds of man made disasters lead to human suffering, loss of life and long term damage to nations economy. Man made hazards are hazards which are due to human negligence. Man made hazards are associated with industries or energy generation facilities and include explosions, leakage of toxic waste, pollution, dam failure and wars or civil strife. Man made hazards can further be classified into: Nuclear, Biological and Chemical disasters. Man made hazards are of three types:

Disaster Management Cycle

Disaster Phase: This is the phase during which the event takes place. This damage / loss may be that of human life, loss of property, loss of environment or loss of health.

Response Phase: This is the period which is immediately followed by the occurrence of the disaster. In this situation, all individuals respond to the disaster, but in their own ways.

Recovery Phase: This is the phase when victims actually realize the impact of disaster. It is the phase when all medical help has arrived and people have settled from the adversities of the event.

Risk Reduction Phase: During this phase, measures are taken so that in case of next disaster the extent or impact is lessened. This process of making the impact less severe is called "Mitigation".

Preparedness Phase: This phase basically involves development of awareness among the population on general aspects of disaster. This includes education on warning signs of disasters, methods of safe and successful evacuation and first aid measures.

In a disaster, water supplies may be cut off or contaminated. Store enough water for everyone in your family to last for at least 3 days.

First Aid kit: Get a roll of gauze, some gauze pads, medical tape, some painkillers, alcohol wipes, some burn/wound cream and some petroleum jelly or other moisturizer. You’ll have to make your own band aids from gauze and tape, but you’ll be able to cover most other minor injuries.

Keep some cash in the kit. If there is an emergency that causes the banks to close or the ATM's aren't available, you may find that you will need it.

Keep a list of doctors and family contacts in your kit, along with your personal information. If something happens to you, who should we call? Do you have allergies? Who are you and where do you live?

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